Close your eyes. Clear your mind. Take in a deep breath. Now exhale.  Think about all the people that are in your life that have filled it with comfort, love and joy. Can you see their faces? Can you hear their voices? Can you sense how they make you feel safe and loved?

Keep that thought in mind and ask yourself if you truly know how these people feel on the inside. Have you ever heard them cry from their anguish at night? Have you ever seen them rage with anger that has been building within them? Have you ever felt them tremble from worry and fear?

Now, think about yourself for a moment. Have you done the same to others; have shown them support by lending a helping hand and a listening ear? When you see your friends and family, do you greet them from all of your heart, with your smile spread from ear to ear and your arms are extended openly for a warm hug? But deep down to your core, you are struggling with feelings of severe distress, yearning to be heard and supported.  

These are the exact people that seek out therapy. They could be me, you or anyone around you. They are average day-to-day people who are trying to make it day-by-day. People come to therapy to get help. The motivation for therapy is as unique and diverse as the individuals who seek it. But usually people come to find support they haven’t found in other areas of their life. Varying on the issue and type of therapy, therapy may come in the form of support, information, guidance, self-knowledge and/or the space to learn and practice new skills. You might be asking yourself if therapy is right for you and I will share with you the top 5 reasons people seek therapy.

1.       Mental Illnesses: People struggling with depression, anxiety, phobias, addiction, PTSD, ADHD, etc. may seek therapy to treat the problem and/or learn healthy ways to cope. In many cases, disorders are treated medically in conjunction with therapy.

2.       Distress:  If an issue is causing a person severe distress, this could be a sign to seek therapy.  For example, one young woman may be distressed about moving to a new state, while another is delighted. Therapy may be a healthy option if the level of distress is prohibiting her ability to sleep, eat, socialize or enjoy life.

3.       Support and Coping: Loss is a common reason for people to seek therapy. For people to talk about grief, adjustment to physical illness, the end of a relationship or job, abuse issues, or any change in life circumstances that cause distress in a safe and supportive place is what therapy provides. Learning coping skills is fundamental to get clients through these difficult times and therapists help with just that.

4.       Communication: Whether it may be individual, couples or family therapy, many people come to therapy looking for help with their relationships. Therapy can address a common source of distress: poor communication and difficulty resolving conflicts. It may be helpful to have the support of a therapist when exploring the reasons why communication issues occur or while working through difficulty that occurs because of frequent communication issues. 

5.       Self-Exploration: People are intrigued to know why they do what they do, why they feel what they feel and determine how much control they have over those areas. Sometimes this exploration is used to determine career, relationship and personal goals. People seek therapy for a deeper understanding of themselves.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”  Vivian Greene

If you are a person considering therapy, contact Clarity Therapy for a free consultation at 313.427.8388 or email at [email protected].